BARNSTABLE – John Rams Jr. knew his rights and voluntarily spoke with police about the murder of Shirley Reine, Barnstable Superior Court Judge Robert Rufo has concluded in a ruling issued Thursday.

In the 19-page decision, Rufo denied a defense motion to suppress seven separate interviews Rams had with investigators between 2005 and 2011. Based on “credible evidence and reasonable inferences,” Rams, who is accused in the 2005 slaying, talked to detectives voluntarily, Rufo wrote.

Though he would have liked to have had his client's statements tossed by the judge, defense attorney Timothy Flaherty said Monday the interviews aren't likely to hurt his defense because Rams consistently denied any involvement in the killing.

“The court has apparently concluded that all of Mr. Rams' statements were made voluntarily and not in violation in any of his constitutional safeguards,” Flaherty said. “These statements are all indicative of Mr. Rams' innocence and, therefore, the denial of this motion is not of critical significance to his defense.”

The ruling to allow those statements as evidence comes as Rams is scheduled to go on trial March 17. A final pretrial conference is scheduled for March 10.

“I have confidence that it's going in the right direction,” Gilfoy said.

During court hearings Nov. 26 and Feb. 7, Flaherty argued Rams may not have been sober when police initially arrested him on a probation violation on Sept. 21, 2005, but Rufo wrote that the two detectives who questioned him observed that he “walked unassisted, and appeared to be sober.”

The driver of the vehicle Rams was in at the time of his arrest admitted to smoking marijuana that morning, according to testimony during the motion hearing.

“There is no indication that the defendant's mere exposure to marijuana smoke rendered any of his actions that day involuntary,” Rufo wrote.

Rufo pointed out that on two occasions, Rams spoke with police against the advice of counsel and, in one instance, the interview was initiated by his girlfriend. “These factors further indicate ... that the defendant's Miranda waiver and statements on these occasions were voluntary,” Rufo wrote.

The judge also rejected a defense claim that Rams was coerced into the initial interview with police because he wasn't taken to court in a timely manner after his arrest on the probation violation as required under the so-called “safe harbor period.” But because records and testimony indicate he was taken to Falmouth District Court within five hours of his arrest – even though the judge conceded there is “no actual record of the exact time” he went before a judge – Rufo concluded the safe harbor provision was not violated.

Rams initially refused to sign forms waiving his rights on Sept. 21, 2005, though detectives indicated that was because he did not want Todd Reine to find out about his willingness to talk with the investigators.

Todd Reine is the stepson of Shirley Reine and has long been a suspect in the murder, according to court records, but has never been charged. He was embroiled in a bitter lawsuit with Shirley Reine over family assets.

In a separate motion filed earlier this month, Flaherty sought records from the FBI and U.S. attorney's office that he says will show Todd Reine is a police informant. Rufo allowed Flaherty's motion to seek those records with no objection by First Assistant District Attorney Brian Glenny, who is prosecuting the case.

Flaherty said Monday he has not heard anything from federal authorities since the motion was approved.